Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

Ewe/766 07" W racy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. TRACY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,019, dated November 29, 1887.-

' Application filed September 5, 1887. Serial no. 248,863. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM P. TRACY, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates tothill-couplings of that class in which a metalspring is used to prevent the thill from rattling, and in which the tension may be adjusted so as to bear upon the thill to a greater or less degree.

The invention consists of a flat spring bent back upon itself, curved to conform to the shape of the thill, with a tension-spring between its ends, and means for adjusting the force of said spring. 1

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a section of a thill with connections to the axle and my improved anti-rattler in position. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the anti-rattler.

In the drawings, A represents the end of the thill, and B represents the cars, from which the thill is supported upon a bolt, 0, passing through the thill and ears.

-Vari0us devices to prevent rattling of the thills have been heretofore suggested; and the object of myinvention is to improve upon the front part curved to conform to the curve of the thill, and between the ends of the two parts I place a pin, with a screw-threaded front end, and upon this I place a nut, 1). Encircling this pin and between the two arms is placed a spiral spring, D, the tendency of which is to throw out the front arm and force it against the thill. This tension may be adjusted by turning the nut upon the front end of the pin, so that the spring may be pressed against the thill with greater or less force. It will be observed that this makes a very simple arrangement and one which may be slipped into place upon any form of thill now in use without requiring a change of construction.

I claim as my invention- 1. An anti-rattler for thill-couplings, consisting of a piece of sheet metal bent back upon itself,with a pin connecting its lower ends, and a spring upon said pin between the ends, substantially as described.

2. An anti-rattler for thill-couplings, consisting of the two arms of spring metal, one

adapted to bear against the thill, a pin connecting the lower ends thereof, a spring between the ends jupon said pin, and an adjusting-nut upon the end of the pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

.WILLIAM P. TRACY.

W'itnesses:

GEORGE WITMAN, D. E. VANDERVEEN. 

